Team Zero's Message and the Dwarf Prince
[A message has arrived from Team Zero.]
"……."
Kang Hanbit's eyes widened at the floating text. A message from the developers he'd tried to contact himself. And it arrived here, at this exact moment.
So only I can see it, huh.
But neither of the two people around him nor the chat window reacted. If they could see it, all hell would break loose. Team Zero was an enigma of that magnitude.
"No idea what it is. Let's look around some more."
"Sure? I'll check that way then."
"I'll see if there's anything similar!"
Kim Jaeha and Avant-garde reignited their enthusiasm and split off again.
"I'll take a look around too."
Left alone, Hanbit strolled casually while opening the message.
[Congratulations on liberating the first private zone. We're reaching out to provide some small piece of information.]
Information?
Team Zero cut straight to the chase. The next message followed immediately.
[Private zones are spaces containing the Goddess's atonement and dreams. Developing them will serve as a stepping stone to reaching her, so please continue working to liberate the remaining zones.]
Bringing up the Goddess right away?
Hanbit had suspected Team Zero's connection to the Goddess. He just hadn't expected them to reveal it themselves.
My messages still won't go through.
He tried replying, but it was blocked. The Goddess's atonement and dreams. A path to reaching her. The mystery deepened.
*Ding-*
[An opportunity to speak with us will come soon as well. This space can be used as a portal, so make good use of it with your companions. Until next time.]
The connection ended there. "Until next time" was odd enough, but one word jumped out first.
...A portal?
Portals were rare shortcuts linking distant parts of the world. Even Hanbit only knew a handful of locations.
[Access to the 1st Private Zone is granted to the player who liberated it.]
[First Liberator]
Upon first liberating a private zone, you gain management rights over access permissions for all zones. Targets added to the blacklist lose access to the relevant zone.
Reading it again clarified everything. Such conditions made perfect sense for a portal.
Pretty impressive.
The world of Record Project was vast and intricate beyond description. Even with the game system, travel took considerable time. But if private zones functioned as portals, trips would end in seconds.
RP players would lose their minds over it.
*Ding-*
Lost in thought, an alarm rang in his ears.
[Peckugi has sponsored 1,000 won.]
[Breaking News: Private zone entrance open. Sightseers starting trials.]
-It's real. lol
-No one's here though?
-Trial map seems totally separate?
-Yeah, gotta clear it to come here.
The viewers' updates matched his expectations. With the first liberator revealed, opening trials to everyone was natural. Whether they could clear them was another story entirely. The rewards were just access permissions anyway.
I want to keep snagging those first-clear rewards.
He already held management rights for all private zones. But others might offer special first-clear bonuses. With the developers mentioning the Goddess, he had to claim them all first.
"Nothing special here?"
"Same on this side."
As he organized his thoughts and walked, the two returned.
"No gravestones?"
"Didn't see any."
"Me neither."
They gave the same answer to his question. He'd been curious about that rune-etched gravestone, but apparently, there was just the one. Would more private zone liberations reveal its secrets?
"What now? Keep looking?"
"Nah, this is enough."
Hanbit shook his head and gave the walls one last scan. Then he pointed to the central clock tower.
"Time to head out."
***
"Hey! There!"
"They came out!"
Emerging from the cave, the trio faced a massive crowd. Even accounting for challengers entering the private zone, it was overwhelming.
"Still this packed?"
"Plenty of stragglers and spectators, right?"
Kim Jaeha and Avant-garde reacted similarly.
"...Finally."
A man's voice rang out. Turning, they saw Rainzer approaching.
"What, you didn't go in?"
"Obviously. Nothing ordinary works when you're involved. Throwing myself in blindly would be pointless."
-?
-Chicken?
-Is this the vanguard? lol
-Black Dragon wiped the floor with him bad.
To Hanbit's light jab, Rainzer replied firmly. Layers of caution had made him overly wary.
"Vanguard level might clear it quick?"
"I've learned the info gap all too well. Same for private zones. Plus, you're sharing the clear details, right?"
"Anyone'd think I put you up to it."
"This could shake the RP world. With your new company, it'll be great publicity."
"Lashten's vouch adds weight."
"……."
-lololol
-Owned instantly. lol
-Just take the money and bail.
-What about us?
-Ditching viewers?
-Someone'll sponsor later.
-Fr lol
Despite the casual needling, Rainzer stayed silent. But he showed no sign of backing down. Onlookers glancing openly wanted the same: private zone and clear info.
He planned to share, but this time, with conditions. No more time-wasting hassles.
"I recorded the private zone clear. Behave till this episode ends, and I'll release it."
"Specifically?"
"Use your judgment. Viewers, take note: cross the line, and the video stays buried forever. My call."
Short and done, Hanbit pushed through the crowd. Blockers hesitated and scattered—effective.
"It actually worked?"
"Of course. No one knows the value of a private zone clear yet..."
The two trailed him out, amazed. Portal details would surface naturally with the next zone. No more annoyances? Perfect.
"You two know Ifrit well?"
"Best I know. Been grinding there forever."
"I've spent a fair amount of time too."
Both started in Edlen. No Ifrit episode for them, but personal reasons filled the gap. Especially Kim Jaeha, who'd scoured for hidden skills—Ifrit expert.
"This way for a bit."
Ten minutes in, Hanbit veered into untamed woods. Trailing Avant-garde asked curiously,
"Not to Ifrit? This leads to the snowfields..."
"Something to check. Avant-garde, you've met nearly every Ifrit NPC?"
"All of them. Family ties, friendships, rivalries—I know it cold."
He explained matter-of-factly, no lies in his prideful domain.
"Good."
Nodding, Hanbit pressed on. At a winding hill, he stopped.
"Then you know him too?"
Turning, he pointed into the brush. Avant-garde looked—and saw.
"That's..."
In shadowed brush gaps, someone in shabby robes emerged.
[Dwarf Gorik]
"Gorik?"
Unfamiliar NPC name overhead. Unknown face, but something sparked in Avant-garde's memory.
"The Gorik from your episode, Black Dragon? The one who made Camon's magic tool...?"
"...But why's that NPC here?"
-Huh?
-That's him.
-Camon's helper?
-Never saw him in Ifrit tho;
Everyone recalled the same, stunned. Hanbit nodded.
"Yep. The Gorik you all know."
Gorik: Camon's dwarf friend and key ally. Central to every Ifrit event. So Hanbit hadn't missed his tailing for five minutes.
*Snap-*
Gorik halted suddenly—right in Kim Jaeha's path.
"Hand it over."
"What?"
He blurted, flustered. The commanding tone pressed on.
"I said hand it over."
"What the hell outta nowhere?"
"Denying it to my face? I can clearly sense the token in your possession."
"Token?"
Fury laced the firm voice. But Kim Jaeha was clueless.
"What nonsense? What's a token?"
"Denying to the end..."
*Rustle-*
Then, as the dwarf reached out, his hood slipped. Light through the trees revealed a face that drew all eyes.
Untamed black long hair wavy like a midnight sea. Deep, melancholic eyes, straight tall nose, sharp jawline. Too exotic for a dwarf—strikingly handsome human.
*Snap!*
Gorik yanked the hood back up. Too late.
"...Huh?"
Avant-garde's eyes widened in shock beside him. Stepping closer, trembling hand outstretched,
"No way... royalty?"
-Royalty?
-Royal family?
-Human tho?
-Nah, that's royal.
-Handsome af meanwhile;
[ExplainAll has sponsored 1,000 won.]
[Info: Dwarf royalty resemble humans. Extremely rare population; few players have seen one.]
"……."
Gorik fell silent at Avant-garde's question. Undeniable fact, no excuses.
"Well, it was bound to come out."
Exhaling shortly, Gorik removed the robe fully. Facing Avant-garde,
"As you said, I'm dwarf royalty. And the owner of that token he holds."
Gorik's finger pointed at Kim Jaeha's chest.
"What token? I got nothing."
"Absurd. Never met such a brazen fool. Mocking me with stupid lies?"
"This guy's just picking a fight, right?"
Kim Jaeha's face soured at the barrage. NPCs could be annoying too.
"Hm."
Hanbit, who'd watched the exchange, told Kim Jaeha,
"Hyung, show it."
"It?"
"The iron plate from the snowfields."
"...Ah."
Getting it instantly, Kim Jaeha nodded. Opening inventory, he pulled out the thin plate.
"Finally seeing reason. Bring it here."
Gorik nodded approvingly. As he reached leisurely—
*Snap!*
Hanbit snatched the plate.
"……?"
"Huh?"
All eyes shifted in the sudden twist. Hanbit opened his palm lightly.
"Straight to business?"